Local singer uses his talent to support troops

Photo

7.21.2008 Jason Melidona, a.k.a. rapper "Jay Mel" of Niles, poses for a portrait at Trinity United Methodist Church during shooting for the music video of his song, "This Letter." Geoffrey Hauschild

Photo

7.21.2008 Jason Melidona, a.k.a. rapper "Jay Mel" of Niles, is filmed by Videographer, Dan Mizicko, a resident of Vienna and senior at YSU majoring in Telecommunications, at Trinity United Methodist Church during shooting for the music video of his song, "This Letter." Geoffrey Hauschild

By Jon Moffett

The hip-hop artist made a music video at a Youngstown church.

YOUNGSTOWN — You don’t have to support the war in Iraq to support the soldiers fighting. That’s the message in the latest song by local hip-hop artist Jason Melidona, known by fans and peers as Jay Mel.

The song is called “This Letter” and is an unbiased view of the war in Iraq from the perspective of a soldier, Melidona said. The song was inspired by conversations with his friend who fought in Iraq, he noted.

“One of my best friends was in Iraq,” Melidona said. “When he got back home he just sat down and laid everything out. He just explained to me everything.”

The 24-year-old Niles native helped transform the Trinity United Methodist Church on Front Street into a Hollywood-esque video shoot. Melidona, along with manager David O’Connor, are working on a music video for the song.

Steve Sparling, pastor of Trinity church, acknowledged that he gave the group permission because of the values and message of the song.

“I listened to the lyrics first, just to make sure everything was alright, and they were good,” the Rev. Mr. Sparling said. “They had good values in them, and it had a good message to it. We might have as many different opinions within the church on what we ought to do or ought not to do, or where we ought to be and not ought to be, but the thing is we want to be with and for the people who are there.”

O’Connor added that Melidona’s message is to challenge the public to show support for “those men and women fighting for our own freedom.”

“We’re trying to send a message to the public and to our troops that what they do is appreciated,” O’Connor said. “[The song] is nonbiased, so Jason is not saying he’s for the war or against the war. We’re not taking a stance; we’re just trying to show the soldiers’ perspective and send a message to everybody that they need to appreciate what the soldiers do for our country.”

Melidona (2003) and O’Connor (’02) both graduated from Howland High School.

Melidona said he’s been interested in hip-hop and the music industry since he was little. Some of his favorite artists include Ludacris, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. Although these artists have had an impact on his life, Melidona credits his parents for “keeping him on the straight and narrow.”

Melidona and O’Connor said various recording labels have expressed an interest in Jay Mel. Melidona said a “large fan base” is one thing the labels look for when signing clients.

Melidona hopes the video will be ready in the coming months and would be featured on his Web site. For more information on Jay Mel, visit jaymel.com.